John 12:20-43

Summary
The necessity of Christ death is expressed in this passage. Some Greeks came to worship at the feast desiring to see Jesus. He spoke of himself as the grain that had to die and be multiplied; the death he must suffer and his later glorification in order to establish a glorious church throughout the earth. He furthermore made clear to them that self-interest and self-preservation are ultimately self-defeating. It became clear that to serve Jesus is in effect to hate one’s life and for such a person who hates his life for Christ sake will be where he(Christ) is, participating in his glory and eventually receive honour from the father.
Jesus’ sacrificial death had always remained his primary purpose on earth, to this cause; he surrendered himself asking the father to glorify his name.
Jesus again reiterated the importance of his death, to draw all men to him, drawing all men to him does not mean all men have an open invitation to salvation. There is a need to maximize and take advantage of his presence, his word, his authority while the light beams because when darkness comes, it will be a bed of chaos.
In subsequent verse, we see Christ withdraw, as he was disappointed at the level of doubt despite so many signs before them, it was even more worrisome that people who even believed lacked the courage to confess for fear of being cast away. They loved the glory of men more than that of God.

Life Application
In our relationship with God we must be ready to make sacrifices, which is the heart of service. We must be willing to die, Jesus reminds us that there is no harvest without death; the seed has to be planted and die before it can germinate and grow. We must be willing to submit everything to the will of God. It cost him his life. It won him the harvest.

Personal Declaration
I lay down my fears and doubt in my walk with God, ready to pay the price. I totally surrender my life to God’s will and purpose.

Reading – John 12:20-43

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up^[a]from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

³⁷ Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. ³⁸ This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”^[b]

³⁹ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

⁴⁰ “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”^[c]

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

⁴² Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

Footnotes:

1. John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
2. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
3. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10